Feeding a revolution — Formerly "farmers Market Vegan"

How to Make Nut Milk Kefir

Recently, I took a gander at the ingredient list on a box of Edensoy Extra soymilk—my preferred nondairy milk every since becoming a vegan in June 2010. Originally enamored by its minimal processing and title of the first soymilk to comply with the Non-GMO Product Standards, I never questioned my daily cupful of the heart-healthy beverage enriched with vitamins D and B12, which the vegan diet often lacks. However, I never considered that Edensoy would prove problematic for my gluten-free diet—indeed, it includes wheat and barley extract, both of which trigger gluten sensitivities.

Since my disappointing discovery, I’ve began blending up a batch of homemade nut milk every few days based on Sayward’s instructions(aptly named “Do Nuts Have Nipples?”). Concerned, though, of my homemade milk’s lack of vitamin D and B12 fortification, I joyously realized that culturing the milk into kefir with the help of the Body Ecology Kefir Starter Kit from The Raw Food World would transform it into a powerhouse of B vitamins (including the elusive B12) as well as vitamin K, amino acids, and a whole host of beneficial bacteria to balance intestinal flora and keep the ol’ digestive system good and clean. As a bonus, the kefir also qualifies as raw since you never heat it above 92°F.

Each powder packet of the six included in each Kefir Starter Kit can culture up to seven batches of kefir. Simply use it to make your first batch, then replace it with 6 tbsp of kefir leftover from your last one. After doing this seven times, use another packet of powder, and repeat this cycle until all your packets run out.

You can improve the nutritional qualities of any nondairy milk with the Kefir Starter Kit, including commercial soy, rice, and (coco)nut milks, as well as your own homemade versions. It can also culture coconut water.

I realize that the Kefir Starter Kit is somewhat of a specialized product and verily understand if you’re not willing to shell out $26.95 plus shipping to produce your own probiotic beverage. If you’d like to scout for some alternative kefir-making sources, simply Google “kefir grains”, search Craigslist, or visit the Kefir Lady, of whose kefir granules I’ve heard rave reviews. You’ll notice that most other of these kefir starters do not come in powder form, but rather as tiny cream-colored crystals. Sayward also gives a tutorial on how to make water kefir from these crystals, if you’re interested.

Place the nuts in a small bowl and cover with an ample amount of water. The nuts will expand slightly, so make sure you add enough water to keep them covered during the entire soaking process. Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel and let soak for 8-24 hours.

After soaking, drain the nuts and place them in a high-speed blender along with 4 cups of fresh water. Blend for about 2 minutes until very smooth.

Before...

After!

Line a medium saucepan with a double layer of cheesecloth. Pour the entire contents of the blender into the pan and gather up the edges of the cheesecloth to form a satchel of sorts (remember those red-bagged sticks cartoons used to carry while they hitchhiked?).

Now squeeze with all of your might to extract every possible drop of milk from those nuts! Afterwards, you will end up with a pan full of creamy white nut milk and a ball of nut pulp. You can freeze this pulp and use it in baked goods, raw desserts, smoothies, and as a substitute for almond flour in recipes. But whatever you do, don’t throw away that valuable stuff!

At this point, you have a batch of perfectly delicious nut milk and can stop following these instructions if you would not like to turn it into kefir.

Set the saucepan full of nut milk over a burner set to medium-high heat and warm to about 92°F, keeping a close watch on it since the friendly probiotic bacteria will die at temperatures much higher than that, plus the kefir will no longer be considered raw if you heat it above 114°F.

Turn off the heat, empty the kefir powder packet or the 6 tbsp leftover kefir into the milk, and stir well to dissolve. Pour the newly cultured milk into your large glass mason jar and seal it tightly. Place in a warm area (about 72°F) for 8-24 hours. The milk will separate during this time, so give it a good shake before using. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Ta-da! You now have a batch of your very own probiotic beverage that you can blend into smoothies, pour over granola, or drink straight up for a healthy dose of intestinal flora maintenance.

I know that Unsweetened Edensoy just has soybeans & water. I stopped using it, though, because I’m really reducing my soy consumption. I made homemade almond milk for about a month, but it was really too much work for my crazy schedule, plus I missed the creamy quality of the soymilk. My nut milk was so watery in comparison. So, I finally decided to go back to a store-bought alternative, and since I couldn’t find any organic almond milk at my local grocery, there was organic unsweetened coconut milk from So Delicious. I haven’t opened it yet, but I’m really excited to try it. 🙂

Even though I really wasn’t eating much soy before I stopped buying Edensoy, I’ve recently found myself avoiding it, as well.
Nut milk is certainly more watery than its creamy soy counterpart, but turning it into kefir thickens it a bit!
I’ve heard great reviews of So Delicious–let me know how you like it, dear!

I’ve been making macadamia nut milk from freshly picked (and dehydrated!) nuts here in Hawaii. I always add in 1/16th tsp. of xantham gum and 1/8 tsp. of tapioca starch. It thickens the nut milk just enough, and make its last way longer thank without (about 8 days vs. 5, respectively.) :]

Hi Ali, I am trying to find a good source of B12. I was just wondering where the B12 comes from in the Kefir Nut milk? I know B12 is naturally present in raw, unpasteurised milk so it didn’t surprise me that raw kefir milk is a good source of B12, but are you sure it is also in the nut milk too? Thanks. Danielle

Hello, Danielle! The product information for the kefir starter that I used (http://www.therawfoodworld.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=100148_100269&products_id=1004222) says that it contains B vitamins, but does not specify B12 in particular, so I’m not sure whether or not the nut milk kefir would contain it. However, if you’re looking for a good source of B12, I’d highly recommend either a multivitamin with B12 (Rainbow Light has a great one for women that I take daily) or a weekly B12 supplement. Nutritional yeast and Eden Organic Edensoy Extra Soy Milk are also good sources.

Hi Ali,
Thanks for this recipe. Like Uri, I had heard nut milks don’t kefir well, so I was excited to see that you have had success!! One question, why do you have to heat the nut milk to 92 degrees? (When I kefir coco milk, I just add the kefir grains to the cold milk). Thanks!
April

Hi, April! Thanks for reading. I’m assuming that you’re using kefir crystals to culture your coconut milk? The particular culture that I used was in the form of a powder, and I believe that the culturing processes differ between crystals and powders.